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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






2. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






3. System of notes or tones based on and named after the key note.






4. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






5. Rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart.






6. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






7. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






8. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






9. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






10. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






11. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






12. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






13. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






14. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






15. Pertains to tone or tones.






16. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






17. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






18. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






19. To repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played.






20. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






21. An extended solo - often accompanying the vocal part of an aria.






22. A style of singing which is characterized by the easy and flowing tone of the composition.






23. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






24. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






25. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






26. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






27. A successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches.






28. Three to four movement orchestral piece - generally in sonata form.






29. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.






30. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






31. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






32. A Boroque dance with a drone-bass.






33. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






34. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






35. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






36. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






37. A set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts.






38. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






39. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






40. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






41. A short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece.






42. A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.






43. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.






44. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






45. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






46. A symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone.






47. Ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it.






48. A musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times. The rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works.






49. A direction to play expressively.






50. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.